Grief was more than just an emotion for Americans during the 19th century — it was a way of life. The moment Seabury Tredwell drew his last breath, in March 1865, his family put into motion an elaborate system of mourning customs that both announced their grief to the community and provided some measure of release from their suffering.

Join Museum Historian Ann Haddad to explore the origins and significance of these somber yet comforting rituals, from widows’ weeds and crepe-draped mirrors to corpse coolers and funeral biscuits.

This is a virtual event.

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